Automobile marker lock



July 13, 1937.A4

J. R. PuRvls E-r AL AUTOMOBILE MARKER LOCK Filed Nov. 9, 1936 Patented July 13, 1937 PATENT OFFICE AUTOMBILE MARKER LOCK Joseph Richard Purvis and John Henry Howting,

. Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application November 9, 1936, serial No. 109,814

5 Claims.

O ur invention relates to improvements in automobile marker locks, and the object of the invention is to devise a simple, cheap and easily operated device which cannot be tampered with,

5 by which a marker may be permanently locked to a. supporting structure so that it cannot be removed without being ruptured and, therefore, destroyed so that it cannot be re-used, interchanged or used on any other automobile than that to which it is originally applied, and it consists essentially voi. the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Fig. 1 is a 'front lock applied thereto. l

Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing the reverse side of the marker, the marker support and the marker lock applied thereto.,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail through the marker lock and showing a fragmentary portion of the marker plate.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3, the various portions being broken away to show the construction thereof.

25 Fig. 5 is a sectional `detail view on line 5-5 Fig- 2. l

In the drawing like letters of. reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

I indicates the main supporting member oi the marker provided with the usual transverse bar 2 having a longitudinal slot 3 at each end thereof. 4 and 5 are vertical members which are se cured to the transverse stud bolts 6 and 1 extending through the slots 3 and permanently secured in place by the nuts 8 which are recessed on the inner face as indicated at 8X Fig. 5 so as to receive the transverse member 2. The bolts 6 and 1 form an integral part of the vertical members 4 and 5.

In order to secure the parts together the nut 8 is placed in position ,on the transverse member 2 and the bolt 6 or 1 passed through the slot I, the vertical member 4 or 5 being then rotated to screw the bolt into the nut 8.

9 is the license plate provided, adjacent its upper edge, with longitudinal slots I0, each slot I being located adjacent to an end of the license plate. The lower ends of the vertical members 4- and 5 are secured to the license plate adjacent its lower edge by means of the bolts and nuts II and I2. When the parts are secured in this position it will be seen that it will be impossible for the nuts 8 to turn or unscrew from the bolts '6 or 1. The upper end of each member 4 and 5 is provided with a hooked portion view of a marker showing our member 2 by means of I3. It will be noted that the vertical members 4 and 5 are located adjacent the rear face of the license plate or marker centrally of the corresponding slot` I0. The depending" portion I3 of the hook, therefore, depends spaced closely adjacent to the front face of the marker centrally of the corresponding slot I0. By this means a slotted opening I30 is formed into whichthe l marker 9 is entered.

In order to lock the marker 'in this position a slide piece I4 is provided which fits, when the marker is inserted in the slotted opening I3o between the marker and the depending portion ISX of the hook as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. One face of the-slide piece I4 is provided with a tongue projection I5 which lits the slot I0 of the marker. The opposite face of lthe slide piece I4 is provided with a recess II.

I1 is a recess formed in the depending portion I3X and extending from the outer face thereof and forming opposing parallel ledge portions I1X between which extends an oriiice I3', such orifice I3', when the parts are assembled, being directly opposite to the recess I6. I8 is a spring pressed .bolt adapted to extend through the orice I3 into the recess I6.- The outer end of the bolt I8 is enlarg d laterally as indicated at I8X so as to bear upon the faces I1 of the recess I1 when the bolt is spring pressed inward by means of the leaf spring I9. The outer face of the depending portion I3 of the hooked member is recessed as indicated at 20 so as to form side ribs 2| between which a covering piece 22 is tted, being secured in place by welding or any other suitable means. Above the recess I1 the outer face of the hook member I3 is provided with a shallow recess I9X in order to receive the upper portion of the spring I9 so that, when the covering piece 22 is secured in place, the spring is held rmly in place, the opposite or free end of the spring tting into a cross groove I80 formed in the outer face of the bolt I8.

Whenit is desired tol lock the marker in place, the slide piece I4 is placed against the front face of the marker so that the tongue I5 fits within the marker slot IIl. The marker and slide piece I4 are then slid upward so as to enter into the slotted opening I3X, the bevelled upper edge |4 of the slide piece engaging the bevelled portion of the bolt I8 so as to force it outwardly and allow the slide piece to enter. When the slide piece and marker are forced to the top of the slotted the recess I6 is brought opposite to the opening, spring pressed bolt I8 which immediately enpreferably provided with edge ribs 4X as indicated in Fig. 4 between which the tongue portion i5 of the slide piece I4 slides so as to guide the,

slide piece into engagement with the bolt I8 and into the locking position. The slide piece i4 may also be provided with an edge rib |40 which will serve to limit the upward movement of the slide piece and indicate to the operator when the slide piece has been driven home.

What we claim as our invention is:-

1. The combination with a marker plate having a hole adjacent an edge thereof and a plate supporting structure, of a locking device carried by the supporting structure and comprising a. hook portion in which the upper edge `of the plate is inserted so that the hook portion extends opposite to and below the upper edge of the hole, a slide piece adapted to t between the inserted plate and hook, a projection extending from one face of the slide piece and tting the hole of the plate, a recess 'formed in the opposite face of the slide piece, and a spring pressed bolt carried by the hook and engaging the recess when the locking piece and plate are inserted in the hook.

2v. The combination with a marker plate and supporting structure, of a lockingdevice comprising a hook portion carried by the supporting structure and into which the upper edge of the plate is insertable, a slide piece tting between the plate and hook and engaging the plate on one face, and means vcarried by the hook and coacting with the opposite face of the slide piece tov permanently secure the hook and slide piece together.

3.l The combination with a marker plate and supporting structure, of two spaced apart locking devices, each comprising a hook portion forming part of the supporting structure and into which the upper edge of the plate is insertable. a slide piece engaging the plate and insertable with the engaged plate between the plate and hook portion, and means for lockably engaging the inserted slide piece and hook.

4. The combination with a marker plate and supporting structure, of a hook portion carried by the supporting structure, a. slide piece engag ing a face of the'marker plate to slide in unison therewith into the hook portion, .and means for automatically locking the slide pieceas it slides to the inserted position.

5. The combination with a perforated marker plate and a supporting structure, of a locking device comprising a hook portion carried by the supporting structure and into which the perforated portion of the plate is insertable, a slide piece tting between the plate and hook and engaging the perforation, and means for automatically locking the slide piece as it is inserted in the hook.

JOSEPH RICHARD PURVIS. JOHN HENRY HOWTING. 

